J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

J. Dillard's J.D. and the Great Barber Battle is a funny chapter book for 6 year olds about a boy who fixes one terrible haircut and ends up cutting half the town's hair in his bedroom.

What happens

Third grade starts tomorrow, and J.D.'s mum gives him his very first proper haircut. His hairline comes out looking like a mountain range. Then school starts, and EVERYONE has something to say about it.

His first fix only makes things worse. Then one Sunday he borrows Mum's clippers, gives his little brother a fade and does his own. And it looks amazing.

Soon his best friend Jordan is paying him three dollars a cut. Then half the peewee football team wants one. The only barbershop in town starts losing customers, and Henry Jr., who runs it, isn't happy about it at all.

J.D. tells the story himself and he's great company. He's proud of his skills (and of his sweet jar). But there's a lot of heart too. He lives with his mum, his grandparents, his big sister and his baby brother, and money is tight. Hand-me-down clothes from his cousins, free school lunch, one TV that works. It's all just part of his life, told without any fuss.

There are lovely little moments of kindness. When Jordan turns up with a disastrous home haircut of his own, J.D. doesn't tease him, even though Jordan was first in line to laugh at his.

And who hasn't wanted to hide under a hat after a bad haircut?

A heads up for copycats, though. Before he gets it right, J.D. tries his mum's hair relaxer on his own and ends up with a small burn on his neck. He also cuts his brother's hair without asking. Neither is shown as a good idea, but it might be worth saying "don't try this at home" out loud.

What to read next

If they love a kid with big plans for hair, Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy follows Junie B. to a beauty shop with her daddy, where she decides that might be the job for her.